Gary Sutcliffe clambered through a window at a house he hoped to rob, but fled after being confronted by the owner.

He was arrested after a police pursuit in which he drove without headlights through several red lights.

Sutcliffe denied any involvement in the burglary. But he was trapped by the tabby trio of law enforcers who produced all the evidence needed for detectives to pounce.

Using DNA technology, police were able to place Sutcliffe at the scene of the break-in because fur from the three cats was found on his clothes.

What 43-year-old Sutcliffe had not known was that the window he had forced open served as the daytime cat-flap, so fur was all over it when he clambered in.

Sutcliffe, of Hammerton Green, Bacup, has now been sentenced to four and a half years in jail after pleading guilty to burglary and dangerous driving.

The sentence, passed at Burnley Crown Court, also took into account a number of other offences for which he had been arrested.

The court had heard that Sutcliffe had entered the house, in Bolton Road, Hawkshaw, Bury, on October 2 and had started wandering around the property when he was disturbed by the owner.

He fled from the house taking a handbag.

Police later A police car called to the burglary scene then spotted Sutcliffe speeding towards Ramsbottom in a Ford Fiesta with its lights off.

Overturned

He threw was throwing a hat and gloves out of the car and went through several red lights before going on to the M66 and overturning on a roundabout in the centre of Rawtenstall.

Sutcliffe was treated at hospital for minor injuries and was arrested.

But throughout his interview he denied any involvement in the burglary and police had to release him on bail while they continued their inquiries.

It was then the home owner told police that the window the burglar Sutcliffe had forced open was the one that Tigger, Thomas and Max used as their cat-flap.

Police took samples of their fur from around the window and they proved an exact match with cat hairs on Sutcliffe’s clothes.

DC Mick Balfe said: “The forensic evidence uncovered in this case provided an inextricable link between Sutcliffe and the scene of the crime.

"The presence of Max, Tigger and Thomas in the house provided us with evidence that we could really get our claws into.

“Sutcliffe had refused to admit any involvement in the series of events for which he was arrested. But on being produced with the irrefutable evidence provided by the cat hair, he pleaded guilty to the charges at court.

“You could say that this cat burglar has just lost one of his nine lives!’’